Thought for Today
Exodus 12:3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household.
Joshua 24:15 but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Mark 3:21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind."
Matthew 25:40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'
“Since Temple times, the Passover Seder has begun with the child(ren) asking four questions, which serve as a springboard for the story of our nation’s exodus to be retold in detail. This question and answer session forms the stage of the Seder known as Magid (“tell”)” (www.chabad.org)
Those questions are asked by the youngest participant and each is prefaced with, “What makes this night different from all [other] nights?” (ibid). I thought about that tradition this morning as I reflected on yesterday. I asked myself, what made Wednesday so different from all the other days of the week? My answer is shamelessly (mis)appropriated and (mis)quoted from George Orwell’s Animal Farm, “all days of the week are equal, Wednesdays are just more equal than the other 6.”
So, what makes Wednesdays so special in our home? During the pandemic, we adopted a coping mechanism which carried our family through those terrible “social distancing” days. Wednesdays became “Coffee Day.” Then and still today, schedules permitting, our son comes to our house for morning coffee. During the pandemic, we would sit on our patio, carefully distanced, and visit. More often than not, our daughter-in-law would come. Sometimes our grandson would come. On some occasions, our daughter was able to also join us. Yesterday, our son, daughter-in-law and daughter were with us for coffee.
Although I do believe coffee itself is an essential, life-sustaining necessity enabling us to face the rigors of each day and an absolute necessity for our having survived the pandemic . . . it’s not really about the coffee. During those difficult times and during all the times before and since, what truly mattered and continues to matter is family. Greta and I draw strength from and are sustained by our family. I believe family is important for us all. “Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner."
Interestingly, Wednesday is not the only day of the week more special than the others. Sunday is also a more special day. Not only is it the day we worship our Creator God. Sunday is the day when we gather with our other family, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' On Sundays, we worship God together with those other members of God’s family who are our congregation. We are sustained by our shared faith and comforted by the knowledge that countless other congregations who are members of God’s family are doing the same.
I have several families. There are those of us connected by shared DNA; there are those of us connected by shared faith; there are those who are connected by other shared aspects of our lives. Some of you who are reading this are members of that DNA family; some are those with whom we have worshiped at various congregations; some of you are longtime friends or neighbors. We are all members of God’s family.
Another tradition arising from the pandemic is my writing and sharing these Thoughts. It began with a simple email to the congregation I then served as a way of maintaining our connection when we could not worship in person. Originally, I shared simple thoughts, e/g. reciting the 23rd Psalm while washing your hands took the requisite amount of time. It quickly morphed into a part of my regular devotional routine.
What is important about Coffee Wednesday and these Thoughts is not any particular wisdom or knowledge shared or imparted. It is not any genetic connection. What is important is the simple sharing itself. It is not good for us to be alone. We draw strength from each other. We especially draw strength from all of our families, especially from those who are members of God’s family.
Share your self with your families, be strengthened through sharing, trust God,
Pastor Ray